amsler-laffon



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet `1.

J. AMSLER-LAFFON.

PERMANENT EIEE ESCAPE.

No. 301,785. -Patentd July 8, 1884.

(No Model.) `rsheets--sneeu 2;

J..AMSLBRLAFFON.

PERMANENT PIRE ESCAPE.

No. 301,785.' Emana-July' 8, 18a/1:.

(No Model.)

l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. A lvlvSLER-LAFPON.`

PERMANENT FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 801,785. Patente-(1 July 8,1884.

N. PETERS wocu-uimgaplnr. wmingwn. n. c.

- 'Nrrian STATES ATrNr firmen'.

PERMANENT FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,785, dated July 8,1884.-.

Application tiled June 19. 1883. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB AMsLER-LAFFON,

a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Schaff-v the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersor gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to that class of permanent nre-escapes whichconsist, essentially, of afolding ladder made of two side bars or beamsand pivoted connecting-rounds or treadsurfaces, one of the side barsbeing secured to the Wall of a building, and the other being free tomove in an outward and downward direction therefrom to bring theconnecting-rounds or tread-surfaces into a horizontal position when theladder is to be used as a hre-escape. The invention consists in meansfor holding the ladder in a closed or folded position, in a novelconstruction of the ladder whereby it will adaptA itself to angles orcornices or other projections on the front of a building and permit asafe descent therefrom, and in a pneumatic-signal device arranged in anovel manner for giving warning to the occupant of a building thatdanger is impending, or that the ladder is in position Vfor use.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of a straight re-escapeladder,showing the same in an open or unfoldedposition. Fig. l is acrosssectionthrough the line g h of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is -an elevation showing theladder in a closed or folded position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section ofthe closed or folded ladder and the means for releasing or tripping thesame from the interior of a building. Fig. 3n is a cross-section throughthe line ct b of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a ver- .tical section through theline e f of Fig. l, showing more fully the means for locking andreleasing the ladder. Fig. 5 is a face view of an escape-ladder havingan angular section interposed betweentwo straight sections. Fig. 5:L -isa cross-section taken through the line ik of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is anotherform of ladder having an angular side section, only one of the side barsand part of the connecting-rounds being shown in this figure. Fig. 7 isa sidewiew of theladder shown in Fig. 6 when in a closed position. Fig.8 is a front view of a ladder having angular side bars andtelescopicallysliding connecting-rounds. Fig. 8 is a crosssectionthrough the line l m of Fig. 8. Fig. 8b is a cross-section through theline n o of the same ligure. Fig. 9 is a view of a building,representing two 4ladders in front and side elevation, and showing theguard-railing applied to an angularor inclined ladder-section. Fig. 10is a detail view illustrating the operation of the retaining andreleasing devices, and Fig. 1l illustrates the pneumatic signal.

The letter A designates a metallic bar, which is made of channel-iron,of anydesired form in cross-section; and Mis another bar of acorresponding form, which is connected with the bar A by means of roundsor tread-pieces a, that are connected with both bars by hinge or pivotjoints, as is shown in Fig. l, and are either made tubular or solid.These parts constitute a folding ladder, in which the rounds ortread-pieces fold into the hollow space formed when the two side bars ofthe ladder arel brought together, as is shown in Fig. 3. The bar A issecured to the front of a build-v ing by brackets, clamps, or otherfastening devices, and constitutes the permanent member ofthe ladder,the other parts vbeing free to move in downward and outward directiontherefrom.

In Figs. l to 4, inclusive, I have shown a ladder adapted for astraight-walled building, and means for holding the ladder in a foldedposition and releasing the same when it is to be brought into a positionfor ready use. These-retaining and releasing devices consist ofpush-buttons and pins B,which are located in the different stories ofthe building, and operate `in shells or guide-tubes B2, fitted in thewall of the building.

At the back of the bar A of the ladder are arranged bell-crank or elbowlevers O, the

vertical arms of which extend in front of the push-pins B, so that theycan be rocked thereby. A vertical wire or rod, l?, connected with thebell-crank levers belonging to the pushbuttons of the different storiesof the building, lies in the bar A, and is attached at its upper end toone end of a centrally-pivoted lever or IOO arm, Q, the other end ofsaid lever carrying a rod or wire, R,which is connected withasuitablenumber of spring-hooks, S, that are pivoted to the permanent bar A ofthe latter. These hooks engage with projections T on the inner side ofthe movable bar of the ladder, it being obvious that when said movablebar is brought against the permanent bar the hooks engage in anautomatic manner with 1o the projections and hold the ladder closed.

The tripping of the ladder can only be effected from the inside of thebuilding, as the retaining devices are only capable of being released bymeans of the push-buttons and rods 15. and the devices operated thereby.In the event of a fire or other cause rendering the use of the laddernecessary, any one of the pushfbuttons can be resorted to for releasingthe fastening-hooks S,and then the ladder will 2o assume the positionshown in Figrl and be ready for use. Simultaneously with the 0pening ofthe ladder a pneumatic signal is sounded in one or more parts of thebuilding,warn ing the occupants that danger or fire is at hand. Thispneumatic signal is operated by means of a flexible air bulb orbellows,U,tha-t is arranged inside the stationary ladder-bar, and isheld in a collapsed or inoperative state by the pressure of one of theladder-rounds 3o upon the same. When this pressure is removed by theopening or unfolding of the ladder, a spring, V, connected with theairbulb or bellows and with the bar A, serves to distend or inflate saidbulb or bellows, causing a 3 5 suction of air through the pneumaticsignal, which may be in the form of ahorn or whistle. It is alsoproposed to operate a signal or bell electrically by means of anelectrical circuit, and using a circuit breaker and closer, lV, 4o whichis arranged on the ladder-bar A, and

eo-operates with the movable part of said ladder.

In Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, I have represented various forms of foldingladdershaving 4 5 angular or inclined sections or parts for adapting thesame to buildings possessing angles, cornices, or other projections.

In Fig. 5 the permanent side bar, A, has the angular or inclined sectionA5, and the 5o movable bar is divided and has the intermediate angularsection, M5, which is connected with the angular section A5 by thepivoted rounds or tread-pieces, the lower end of the angular section A5resting upon the top of the subjacent bar A when the ladder is in anopen position. On closing theladder an extension, a4, of the tread-piecenext adjoining the angular section M5 comes against the lower end ofthelatter, and when the parts are folded 6o together they assume theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 6 the angular section M5 ofthe movable bar M is shown connectedwith the latter by means of pivoted lever-links M5, which, when theladder is closed, assume the position shown in Fig. 7 and cause thecomponent parts of the ladder to lie close together, as will be readilyunderstood.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, I overcome the necessity ofemploying an independent intermediate section, and can make the outerbar, M, of a continuous length, having the proper angular position M7.This is rendered possible by using connecting-rounds c, made oftelescopieally-sliding sections-that is, each round is formed of atubular part and a solid part that enters and can slide in said tubularpart.

It will be manifest that a ladder having an angular or inclined sectionfollowing the contour of the building can be used as a safe means ofdescent, and in order to prevent anyl stepping ofi' from the angularsection of thc ladder it is proposed to attach a guard-railing, YV,thereto. This railing consists of arms extending at right angles to thebar M and vertical arms running parallel with the latter and connectedwith the other bars of the railing. f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a permanent fire-escape for buildings, the combination, with afolding ladder, of the retaining-hooks S, the vertical rods I R, thelever or arm Q, bell-crank levers O, and pushbuttons and pins B,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a permanent re'escape for buildings, the combination of a foldingladder having an angular or inclined intermediate section and means,substantially as described, for connecting the same with straight topand'bottom sections, as herein set forth.

3. In a permanent nre-escape for buildings, the combination of a foldingladder having side barsy made with an angular or inclined portion andtelescopically-sliding rounds for connecting said inclined portions,substantially as herein set forth.

4. In a permanent tire-escape for buildings, the combination, with afolding ladder, of an air-bulb or bellows having a distending-sprin g,with a pneumatic signal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JACOB AMSLERfLAFFON.

Witnesses:

TUL. A. BoURRY, JOHN FREY.

ICO

IIO

